HEAVY VEHICLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 13

HEAVY VEHICLES.

THE LAW MODIFED. j (Bj Telegraph.—ParUamentary Repot "er.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. An important compensation provision in the Public Works Amendment Bill, passed hy the House or Representatives to-night, prohibits the use on any road or street in New Zealand of any sixwheeled motor lorry, if its load exceeds ; nine tons, or if the combined weight of the vehicle and load exceeds fifteen tons. A six-wheeled motor lorry is defined as a vehicle which is specially designed so that the weight of the load is distributed between the middle and rear pairs of wheels, or a four-wheeled motor lorry I adapted to secure 'better distribution of | the load by means of a combination I body and trailer with two wheels added. | When the weight of the load exceeds six i tons the load must be so distributed that; the weight on the middle axle, or pair j of wheels, does not exceed one and a I quarter times that on the rear axle, or j pair of wheels, and the aggregate weight j carried on the middle and rear axles, or ! ; pairs of wheels, are not to exceed four [times the weight on the front axle or j pair of wheels. The owner and driver of any six-wheeled motor lorry used in contravention of the Act." shall be severally liable to a fine of £10 for every | day on which the vehicle is used. Section j 17 of the Public Works Amendment Act. { I 1024. prohibits the use of any motor I i vehicle if its weight exceeds sixtons. or ' i the combined weight of vehicle and load j exceeds ten tons. The present bill •provides that owners who have been I debarred from the full use of their I vehicles by reason of the operation of i these restrictions, shall be entitled to compensation for any depreciation in the value of a vehicle caused thereby, j

The amount of compensation payable shall not bear a higher proportion to the value of the motor vehicle than the decrease in carrying capacity beaxs to designed capacity. Compensation not exceeding the actual cost of alterations shall be payable to those who 'Save converted motor vehicles into sis-wheeled ■ lorries, or made any other structural : alteration. Disputes as to the amount i j payable are to be determined by two ! . arbitrators, one to be appointed by the j i Minister, and one by the claimant to' j compensation. The bill contains further j clauses extending the powers of dealing j | with water races held under the Mining j •Act, and used for irrigation purposes,! ] and also providing that the Crown may i take any quarry or gravel pit when it is required in connection with the construction of public 'work. Stone or | gravel may also be taken from any land j other than land occupied as a garden or I ornamental shrubbery, after 24 hours , notice has been given. i i